Val Gardena

Gherdëina (Ladin:  [ɡeʁˈdɜi̯na] ; Italian: Val Gardena [val ɡarˈdeːna; -ˈdɛːna]; German: Gröden [ˈɡʁøːdn̩]) is a valley in Northern Italy, in the Dolomites of South Tyrol. It is best known as a skiing, rock climbing, and woodcarving area.

Geography

The valley's main river is the Derjon. The three municipalities in Gherdëina are Urtijëi, Sëlva, and Santa Cristina; they were served by the Fërata de Gherdëina from 1916 until 1960.

Culture

Gherdëina is one of five valleys with a majority of Ladin speakers (two of these valleys are in South Tyrol). The form of the Ladin language spoken in this valley is called Gardenese in Italian, Grödnerisch in German and Gherdëina in Ladin.

Woodcarving

The woodcarving industry has flourished in Gherdëina since the 17th century. Since the 19th century, statues and altars carved in the area have been shipped to Catholic churches throughout the world. In the 18 th century, besides religious statuettes, the production of woodcarved figurines of genre art was widespread in the valley. Among them statuettes of beggars generally in pairs (female and male), four seasons, watchstands were very popular. In the 19th and 20th century, carving of wooden toys was such a widespread occupation in all Gardenese families that Amelia Edwards called Urtijëi the "capital of Toyland." One of the valley's best-known products is the peg wooden doll which was popular all over Europe and America in the 19th century.